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Evaluating transient storage and associated nutrient retention in a nutrient-rich headwater stream: a case study in Lake Chaohu Basin, China

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Abstract

Transient storage has been studied intensively in small streams, but some processes and mechanisms are not yet entirely understood regarding this issue, especially in chronically nutrient-enriched streams. The exploration of transient storage dynamics in nutrient-rich headwater streams has great significance for stream nutrient management in China and other developing countries, which are suffering from eutrophication. In the present study, we conducted five instantaneous slug additions composed of a conservative tracer dissolved with two nonconservative nutrients injections in a suburban small stream (Guanzhen Creek), Lake Chaohu Basin, China. Transient storage metrics were estimated using the model-fitted hydrologic parameters from the one-dimensional transport with inflow and storage (OTIS) model. Regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between hydraulic parameters and transient storage metrics. Moreover, nitrogen and phosphorus retention efficiency was qualitatively evaluated based on the OTIS model-fitted nutrient parameters. Our results showed that the OTIS model-fitted hydrologic parameters in Guanzhen Creek were within the range of previously published literature. The transient storage metrics of Guanzhen Creek were generally comparable to those in streams with low-to-moderate nutrient levels in other catchments. Moreover, most of the transient storage metrics showed a strong relationship with stream discharge, while only hydrological retention factor showed a markedly negative correlation with flow rate. Given the negative uptake rates for NH4-N and SRP in half cases, we reasonably concluded that Guanzhen Creek was hardly incapable of retaining nitrogen and phosphorus.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51579061).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China

    Ruzhong Li, Yuqing Wang & Yang Fu

  2. Key Laboratory of Nanominerals and Pollution Control of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China

    Ruzhong Li, Yuqing Wang & Yang Fu

  3. Anhui Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Hefei, 230006, China

    Jing Qian

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  1. Ruzhong Li
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  2. Yuqing Wang
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  4. Yang Fu
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Correspondence to Ruzhong Li.

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Li, R., Wang, Y., Qian, J. et al. Evaluating transient storage and associated nutrient retention in a nutrient-rich headwater stream: a case study in Lake Chaohu Basin, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 6066–6077 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07349-3

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